John Paciorek
John Paciorek | ||
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John Francis Paciorek (
Paciorek is rare among Major League Baseball players in having a perfect batting average of 1.000. He is the only player to achieve this distinction with more than two at bats.[1] His two brothers, Jim Paciorek and Tom Paciorek, also played in the major leagues.
Early life
Paciorek was born in Detroit on February 11, 1945. His father was a factory worker in Plymouth, Michigan. He was the oldest of eight children; two of his brothers, Tom and Jim, went on to have MLB careers as well. He attended St. Ladislaus High School in Hamtramck, Michigan, and was named to the varsity baseball team as a freshman. During his high school career, he focused on strength building to achieve his dream of being a baseball player. By the time he graduated, he had gone from 119 pounds (54 kg) to 200 pounds (91 kg), and was an all-state three-sport star in baseball, football, and basketball. Paciorek also played on Detroit's team in the National Amateur Baseball Federation; he was named most valuable player during the annual tournament in 1962.[2] While he was still in high school, Houston general manager Paul Richards convinced Paciorek to sign with the Colt .45s; the two agreed to a $45,000 contract.[3]
Baseball career
In late 1962, Paciorek attended an instructional league put on by Houston, which led to him becoming part of the team's
Paciorek, who was the starting right fielder, began the day with a walk in the second inning. He then had a single in the fourth inning, which drove in Rusty Staub and Bob Aspromonte. After singling and again bringing home Aspromonte in the fifth, Paciorek had a walk in the sixth, and ended the day with a leadoff single in the eighth.[7] In total, he went to the plate five times and hit three singles and had two walks, scoring four runs en route to a 13–4 Houston victory over the New York Mets.[3] He had a perfect major league career batting average and on-base percentage of 1.000 as a result of his performance that day, something no one else with as many plate appearances as Paciorek has done.[8]
Thanks in part to his performance in the final game of Houston's season, Paciorek was invited to spring training for Houston in 1964. His performances included a bases-loaded
Paciorek returned to the Houston organization in 1966, and split the season with the
Post-baseball career
After his baseball career ended, Paciorek returned to school and earned a degree in
Two of his brothers, Jim Paciorek and Tom Paciorek, also played in the Major Leagues.[12]
References
- ^ Czerwinski, Kevin (December 17, 2021). "Batting 1.000. Really". ballnine.com. Retrieved April 6, 2024.
- The Owosso Argus-Press. August 27, 1962. p. 8.
- ^ a b c d e f g h Keith, Ted (July 9, 2012). "The Perfect Game". Sports Illustrated. Retrieved January 11, 2015.
- ^ "Colts Search for Power". The Victoria Advocate. March 15, 1963. p. 19.
- ^ a b c Wagner, Steven K. (January 31, 1991). "It's All In Day's Work". Los Angeles Times. Retrieved January 11, 2015.
- ^ a b c d "John Paciorek Minor League Statistics & History". Baseball-Reference.com. Retrieved January 11, 2015.
- ^ "Sep 29, 1963, Mets at Colts Play by Play and Box Score". Baseball-Reference.com. Retrieved January 11, 2015.
- ^ Hoffman, Benjamin (March 30, 2013). "For the Sultan of Small Sample Size, a 1.000 Career Average". The New York Times. Retrieved January 11, 2015.
- Ocala Star-Banner. Retrieved March 4, 2013.
- ^ Reichler, Joe (March 30, 1964). "See Buford, Allen as Top Rookies of '64". Warren Times-Mirror. p. 13.
- ^ "Joey Paciorek Minor League Statistics & History". Baseball-Reference.com. Retrieved January 11, 2015.
- ^ "John Paciorek Stats". Baseball-Reference.com.
Further reading
- Snelling, Dennis (28 January 2014). A Glimpse of Fame. McFarland & Company. pp. 217–228. ISBN 9780786477494.
- Wagner, Steven K. (31 March 2015). Perfect: The Rise and Fall of John Paciorek, Baseball's Greatest One-Game Wonder. Jefferson, North Carolina: Breakaway Books. p. 240. ISBN 9781621240167.
External links
- Career statistics and player information from MLB, or ESPN, or Baseball Reference, or Fangraphs, or Baseball Reference (Minors), or Retrosheet
- John Paciorek's blog
- Retrosheet Boxscore: Houston Colt .45s 13, New York Mets 4 September 29, 1963, Colt Stadium (John Paciorek's only MLB game)
- September 29, 1963: Fleeting fame and enduring memories for Houston's John Paciorek, Jim Umbricht SABR.org